Padres bloggin' since 2007

I’ll post reports on the Padres pile of pitching prospects they received in return for Jake Peavy. I tried to work Aaron Poreda in that sentence too, but that would be just silly. I’ll update this page as I find more.

Aaron Poreda

So for his brief minor league career thus far, Aaron Poreda is 12-9 with a 2.69 ERA in 207.1 innings, with a K/9 rate of 7.2 and a WHIP of 1.10. All very good numbers, and certainly predictors of future success.

Strengths: Plus, plus fastball with above-average movement and the ability to throw strikes consistently.
Weaknesses:His secondary stuff. The slider and changeup will have to come a long way. Even though he’s a lefty, he’s not good at getting left-handed hitters out.

Don’t be surprised to see him in the big leagues at some point in 2009 — with his outstanding fastball and improving secondary pitches, he is the system’s top pitching prospect. “Organizational player of the year.”

Baseball America (November, 2008, h/t SDPads1)

Named best fastball in the organization, #2 prospect

Clayton Richard

Minor League Ball (December, 2008)

Grade C+: Throws strikes, nice sinker, not a big margin for error.

MLB.com (November, 2008)

The control freak walked only 20 in 127 2/3 Minor League innings while fanning 86. Richard was an eighth-round pick in 2005. “Organizational player of the year”

Baseball America (November, 2008, h/t SDPads1)

Named #3 Prospect in organization

Dexter Carter

Carter’s changeup was coming in at a firm 83-85 mph earlier in the season, but Owens said they’ve lowered that figure to 78-80 now. Carter has the added advantage of standing 6-foot-6, enabling him to generate a good downhill plane for all his pitches, though issues with staying on a straight line to the plate still creep in from time to time.

Given the assets he already has, it’s not hard to imagine Carter having success at higher levels if his changeup progresses.

Minor League Ball (December, 2008)

Grade C: Excellent pro debut following horrible college season. Which is the real Carter?

Adam Russell

MLB.com (November, 2008)

A 6-foot-8 reliever who posted a 4-0 record and 5.19 ERA after his big league callup, Russell struck out 22 over 26 innings and earned a spot on the White Sox postseason roster. “Kept their footing.”